AIKO vs Tongwei - solar panel manufacturer comparison
AIKO has the broader catalog (144 vs 122 models). AIKO leads on peak efficiency at 25.20%. Tongwei leans bifacial (69% of lineup).
Both catalogues are read from the manufacturers' own datasheets. A brand is not scored against the market here, only against the other brand on this page.
The two companies
- Founded
- 2009
- Headquarters
- Shanghai, China
- Listed
- SZSE: 600732
- Tier 1 bankable
- Yes
- Founded
- 2013
- Headquarters
- Chengdu, China
- Listed
- SSE: 600438
- Tier 1 bankable
- Yes
Catalogue against catalogue
An average over a catalogue describes the range a manufacturer publishes, not the module you would buy. A brand with two flagship panels and eighty older ones averages worse than one that has retired its back catalogue.
What each of them builds
AIKO skews to higher efficiency: 85% of lineup is 23%+
AIKO offers more 600W+ panels (60% of lineup)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>Back Contact</strong> (83%)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>TOPCon</strong> (47%)
The flagships
Written summary
AIKO is a Chinese solar manufacturer headquartered in Foshan, Guangdong, founded in 2009 and listed on BloombergNEF's Tier 1 module manufacturers list since 2024. The company has pursued a deliberately differentiated technology path, staking its identity on all-back-contact (ABC) cell architecture rather than the mainstream TOPCon route. AIKO planned BC module shipments exceeding 20 GW for 2025 and has a manufacturing complex designed for up to 30 GW of total cell and module capacity. Tongwei is a substantially older and larger enterprise, founded in 1982, headquartered in Chengdu and part of a diversified agribusiness-to-energy conglomerate that reached Fortune Global 500 status. Tongwei Solar entered Q1 2025 with roughly 85 GW of module capacity and has maintained BloombergNEF Tier 1 status through multiple consecutive quarters, with cumulative module shipments surpassing the 100 GW milestone. On institutional footprint - balance-sheet scale, financing track record, and supply-chain depth - Tongwei holds a clear advantage.
AIKO's flagship Neostar series targets premium residential and commercial rooftops, where its ABC back-contact design delivers panel efficiencies confirmed at up to 24.3%, among the highest available in that segment, and earns it recognition such as the 2025 SolarQuotes Installers' Choice award in Australia. Its Stellar series addresses utility-scale ground mounts with large-format bifacial modules. Tongwei's product mix tilts heavily toward utility and large commercial applications, with its G12R and TNC 3.0 TOPCon lines offering modules above 625 W and efficiencies around 23-24.8%; the company was also named a Top Performer in the Kiwa PVEL 2025 PV Module Reliability Scorecard, reinforcing its appeal for bankable, large-scale projects.
For a buyer prioritizing absolute efficiency on constrained rooftop space and willing to pay a premium, AIKO's ABC technology is a compelling choice with proven installer support in markets like Australia and the UK. For utility developers, large EPCs, or procurement teams requiring deep supply-chain redundancy and a long bankability track record, Tongwei's scale and institutional standing make it a safer default. The two brands are not interchangeable - they occupy meaningfully different efficiency and scale niches - though both carry credible Tier 1 status.
- Aiko steps up ABC transition with 11GW capacity upgrade
- Aiko launches new rooftop solar panels with 24.3% efficiency
- Tongwei Solar Earns BloombergNEF Tier 1 Status in Q1 2025 - PVTIME
- Tongwei Solar - first vertically-integrated leading global module supplier 2025
- Tongwei Solar - Kiwa PVEL 2025 PV Module Reliability Scorecard
Generated by Claude Sonnet · 2026-05-15
Other brand comparisons
Shop prices: See 179 AIKO offers · See 71 Tongwei offers
Comparisons are computed from manufacturer datasheets held in the ComparePV database and may not reflect a brand's complete current lineup. Nothing on this page is paid placement.